JUST Now:Jay Williams Defends Giannis Antetokounmpo, Blasts Stephen A Smith’s ‘Asinine’ Underachiever Take
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the fiery exchange where former NBA guard Jay Williams came to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s defense against Stephen A. Smith’s controversial “underachiever” label:
🏀 The Controversy: Stephen A.’s “Underachiever” Lab
On June 13, 2025, during First Take, Stephen A. Smith stated that if Giannis finishes his career with only one championship, he’d be considered an “underachiever.” He argue
Despite being one of the top scorers and rebounders over the past four years, and with nine All-NBA and All-Star selections, Giannis has won just one title and few playoff series recently
As Smith put i
> “You don’t look at somebody that dominant… and all you have is one championship to show for it… He’s got one playoff series win in the last four years. That’s unacceptable.”
This sparked a strong backlash—none louder than Jay Will
🎙️ Jay Williams Fires Ba
On June 16, 2025, during the same show, Jay Williams didn’t hold bac
He called Smith’s take “one of your worst takes… horrible… asinine”
Highlighting Giannis’s achievements—two MVPs, Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, multiple All‑NBA selections, and a 50-point Game 6 in the Finals—Williams stressed that Giannis’s résumé speaks volumes
Jay emphasized that if anyone’s underachieving, it’s the Bucks organization—not Giannis himself
He had a memorable lin
> “The fact that he brought a championship to Milwaukee… to call him an underachiever is just… asinine.”
His frustration was palpable, as he accused NBA media of failing to “reframe these conversations” appropriate
🔥 Social Media Reacti
Reddit’s r/nba also exploded in respons
> **“Giannis is the 15th pick… His career is already a resounding success… He’s also still pretty young.”**
**“Giannis earned his status in the league from nothing. This is ridiculous.”**
Fans argued that, given Giannis’s rise from obscurity, to call him an underachiever is completely off-b
🧠 Giannis Respon
Giannis himself weighed in—non‑verbally—posting on Instagram a fan tweet that rea
> “Giannis went from selling sunglasses on a beach in Greece, to a multi‑millionaire who won a championship without having to run off and create a super team… anyone who thinks otherwise is ridiculous.”
The Bucks star replied with fire and “100” emojis, clearly backing the sentim
🏆 Verdi
Williams’s defense reminds us that Giannis’s career include
2× M
Finals M
Defensive Player of the Ye
Multiple All‑NBA & All‑Star hono
A historic 50‑point Finals Performan
A transformative impact on a small‑market franchise turning champions after 50 years
Smith’s point is rooted in the era of “ring culture”: in today’s NBA, consistent playoff success is a key measurement—even superstars are judged harshly if they don’t stack multiple championships
While both sides present valid arguments, Williams’s argument holds more weight—Giannis has defied odds, dominated eras, and delivered the ultimate goal: a championship—without assembling a super-te
📌 The bigger issue? How we discuss greatness in sports. Jay Williams is pushing for more nuance, especially when evaluating transcendent players like Gianni
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the fiery exchange where former NBA guard Jay Williams came to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s defense against Stephen A. Smith’s controversial “underachiever” la
🏀 The Controversy: Stephen A.’s “Underachiever” Lab
On June 13, 2025, during First Take, Stephen A. Smith stated that if Giannis finishes his career with only one championship, he’d be considered an “underachiever.” He argue
Despite being one of the top scorers and rebounders over the past four years, and with nine All-NBA and All-Star selections, Giannis has won just one title and few playoff series recently
As Smith put i
> “You don’t look at somebody that dominant… and all you have is one championship to show for it… He’s got one playoff series win in the last four years. That’s unacceptable.”
This sparked a strong backlash—none louder than Jay Will
🎙️ Jay Williams Fires Ba
On June 16, 2025, during the same show, Jay Williams didn’t hold bac
He called Smith’s take “one of your worst takes… horrible… asinine”
Highlighting Giannis’s achievements—two MVPs, Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, multiple All‑NBA selections, and a 50-point Game 6 in the Finals—Williams stressed that Giannis’s résumé speaks volumes
Jay emphasized that if anyone’s underachieving, it’s the Bucks organization—not Giannis himself
He had a memorable lin
> “The fact that he brought a championship to Milwaukee… to call him an underachiever is just… asinine.”
His frustration was palpable, as he accused NBA media of failing to “reframe these conversations” appropriate
🔥 Social Media Reacti
Reddit’s r/nba also exploded in respons
> **“Giannis is the 15th pick… His career is already a resounding success… He’s also still pretty young.”**
**“Giannis earned his status in the league from nothing. This is ridiculous.”**
Fans argued that, given Giannis’s rise from obscurity, to call him an underachiever is completely off-b
🧠 Giannis Respon
Giannis himself weighed in—non‑verbally—posting on Instagram a fan tweet that rea
> “Giannis went from selling sunglasses on a beach in Greece, to a multi‑millionaire who won a championship without having to run off and create a super team… anyone who thinks otherwise is ridiculous.”
The Bucks star replied with fire and “100” emojis, clearly backing the sentim
🏆 Verdi
Williams’s defense reminds us that Giannis’s career include
2× M
Finals M
Defensive Player of the Ye
Multiple All‑NBA & All‑Star hono
A historic 50‑point Finals Performan
A transformative impact on a small‑market franchise turning champions after 50 years
Smith’s point is rooted in the era of “ring culture”: in today’s NBA, consistent playoff success is a key measurement—even superstars are judged harshly if they don’t stack multiple championships
While both sides present valid arguments, Williams’s argument holds more weight—Giannis has defied odds, dominated eras, and delivered the ultimate goal: a championship—without assembling a super-te
📌 The bigger issue? How we discuss greatness in sports. Jay Williams is pushing for more nuance, especially when evaluating transcendent players like Gianni
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